Okay, I know I have a very twisted mind and completely unrealistic dreams , but this one was so good I couldn't let it pass by (…herf let's say rather weird than good, otherwise people are going to take me for a complete psycho, niark niark).

So, once again, here is a part of my wild imagination I wanted to share again. It's kinda situated in the 19th background (but I'm not very subtle with historical details, so perfectionists, please forgive the potential mistakes…=.=).

Anyway, still the same warnings you read in my other fics:

Warning 1: you don't like AU and Mentalist together? give it a try, you never know ;)

Warning 2: my English grammar isn't the best. I voice it better than I write it. Hope you'll still enjoy (won't blame you if you don't :))

Slave

1.

The murmurs of a crowd, indefinite sounds, the smell of dust, the few voices here and there. Everything was mixed up in a blur. She barely registered what was said. She was hungry, exhausted, and wanted nothing else but that nightmare to stop.

"Come on! Hurry up, we don't have much time."

For the last three days, she hadn't slept more than a couple of hours, hadn't eaten much and hadn't get to wash herself either. But she wasn't alone in that case. Fifty people, maybe more, including her were waiting in the small room. Their clothes were rather clean but in tatter –no one would spend too much on them right now. They all wore the damn necklace with a number written on it, their wrists were tied in heir back, and they were all praying for one thing: getting out of this hellhole. Unfortunately, there were only two ways, and she liked neither of them; being sold, or die.

The foreman –a tall well-built man, shoulders covered by his short cape- shouted, snapping a whip in the air. "Come on my beauties. Put on your best smile and play nice!"

As the mass of tired people moved towards the door, a few guards were laughing without restraint.

"Hey Tessa!" one of the janitors called at her. "Better come back so can we have some fun tonight!"

She shivered but didn't look back. Again, she'll find an opportunity to flee. And this time she'll succeed, she told herself.

The entire mass of people was displayed in groups of five on three rows, in accordance of their age, sex, and colour of skin. She, was separated from the others and let in the background, behind heavy grey curtains. There, an iron barred cage high enough for her to stand up was waiting for her. She was untied, thrown inside, and the door was closed and locked. A guard armed with a spare was standing close, keeping an eye on her.

"Not much luck this time, Tessa" he said with a smirk. "Manager has a special someone who might be interested in you; and he wants to be sure you won't try to run away again."

Manager was the nickname of the head merchant, Brad Elias. That news couldn't possibly be good for her. She grabbed the bars and glared at the soldier furiously; he laughed in response. Her tiredness slowly disapeared, as her fists whitened when she tightened her hold.

"Laugh while you can" she spitted furiously. "When I'm out there, the first thing I will do is come back and slash your throat open."

Her determined tone made the man laughed even more.

"Well, well, Tessa; I'm sure you will. But before that, you'd better be freed by your new master."

"I'm no slave!" she shouted back. "I wasn't one for starters, and I'll never be one!"

The guard smirked and bent closer to her, his faces inched of hers.

"Don't care what you were, it's what you are right now that matters" he whispered mockingly. "You were bought by Manager and you better behave if you want to get out of here. Not that I'd complain. The guys and I are having a lot of fun with you" one of his hands suddenly grabbed her chin "You have such a smooth skin and fierce temper, Teresa. Your screams are so stimulating…"

The words should have terrified her. It didn't anymore. She just moved out of his grip, swallowed her anger, and looked out through the bars. The curtains weren't well closed, and she could see her unfortunate companions were being sounded closely. A middle-aged black-haired woman was tracing light patterns on a young man's bare chest. Teresa remembered vaguely the man's name being Harry and pitied him. He was quite handsome, and the old perv was obviously looking for a sex-slave. Teresa knew she was attractive, but thankfully not enough to tempt a potential buyer. Brad Elias was well-known for the good shape, docile behaviour of his merchandise, but also for his outrageous high prices.

"Yes, a rare piece sir. Only seventeen, well-born and educated, I assure you…"

Speaking of the devil, the man pushed the curtains out of the way, accompanied by a big fat client richly dressed. Brad Elias himself was rather eye-catching; strong frame, beautiful brown curls and sparkling dark eyes. Despite his fabulously fake sweetness, he managed to keep a steady business, charming people into buying his slaves.

The client, on the contrary, looked like he was in great pain just by walking. If he hadn't been bearded and wearing different clothing, he could have been taken for an eight-month pregnant woman with porcine eyes.

Elias stopped in front of her cage and pointed at her. Teresa instinctually took a step back, gulping, before adopting a more confident posture.

"So, what do you think, sir? Isn't she beautiful?"

Those words almost made her huff. Beautiful? My ass, she thought. Her dark hair was a mess and her skin was barely clean. But her clothes did emphasize the elegant curves of her body when she was untied. Maybe that's why they made an exception for her today. The last detail seemed to attract the client's attention.

"Yeah she is."

"I'm selling her five hundred. I know it's a little expensive" Elias added quickly before the man could answer anything. "But look at her carefully. I think she is worth every buck you'll spend on her. She is healthy, young, and pretty. Trust me sir, you won't find some other female on the market of that quality."

Pigman –as she nicknamed him immediately- seemed attracted by the idea and seduced by the merchant's discourse. Teresa knew that if she didn't react soon enough, she was going to be sold. And good thing, she was becoming good at rejecting buyers.

Think quick

She stood straight and crossed her arms, eyeing the soon-to-be ex-potential buyer with a glare.

"Can't believe you're buying every single word Manager is telling you" she said casually. Her words attracted Pigman's attention. Elias and the guard both tensed at what she was going to say. "He just considers you like a big fat pig, a pigeon who's going to buy one slave he's dying to get rid of since he bought it. Yeah, Pigman" she added when she saw the eye's man open wide in surprise. "I'm talking to you."

She knew she was going to regret her words the very moment she said them. The guard hit her hard in the ribs with the end of his spear. Teresa yelped in pain and massaged the hurt spot. The client was frowning at Manager now.

"Are you sure you ain't conning me, Manager? She is pretty, but I don't like big mouths."

Elias just shrugged, trying to catch up for her rudeness.

"I'm sorry sir. She has some education, and is quick-witted…"

"I don't care about that!" the man replied angrily. "I just wanna pretty girl who won't whine every five seconds."

"That's going to be hard" Teresa added, protecting her ribs. "You smell as bad as you look, Pigman. Any woman would complain about the scent."

This time, the guard hit her head. She crawled in a ball, the farther she could from them, but didn't stop glaring.

"Let's see other articles sir" Elias cut quickly. "I'm sure we'll have exactly what you want over there. My assistant, Riddle, has a pretty good collection of young girls. Riddle? Mind to show this gentleman?"

The thin assistant nodded and invited the client to follow him, trying to coax him with sweet sentences and compliments while his employer turned back to her. Teresa knew she was in trouble when Elias shot her a death glare.

"You've brought me more difficulties than I expected. I thought you'd be wise enough to shut up, after all the punishments I ordered. I guess they were too light."

He bent over her, his faces inches away of hers. The cold fury in his eyes made her shiver, but she swore she wouldn't shatter in front of that man.

"I'll make you regret every single word you've said. I'll break every single resolve I see in your eyes. And I swear you're going to wish you were dead way before I'm done with you. Got it?"

Teresa nodded slowly and gulped. She had to get out of here, and very, very fast.

Thanks for reading so far. So, how is it for starters?